Isle of Capri fire officials to discuss possible merger with East Naples

Collier County Paramedic and Firefighter Sam Poole, center, and Isle of Capri and East Naples firefighters work a five-acre brush fire on U.S. 41 east of Collier Boulevard on Monday. The fire didn't threaten any structures, but caused traffic to be diverted to Manatee Road. Lexey Swall/Staff

Donna Fiala, Collier County commissioner, founding member of Bayshore Arts

Kingman Schuldt was named active chief of the East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District on Sept. 27 after Fire Chief Keith Teague retired.

Collier County commissioners are calling on Isle of Capri residents and leaders to begin discussing a possible merger of the community's fire department with the East Naples fire district.

The move would result in Capri residents paying a lower millage rate — about $50 per year for each $100,000 in property value — and may be financially necessary for the cash-strapped district, some officials say.

"I think Capri realizes it needs to consolidate," said Commissioner Donna Fiala, who represents East Naples and Isle of Capri. "Now that the door is open, they can walk in and have a seat at the table and negotiate for what they want instead, I think they feel happier about it."

Commissioners on Tuesday said they want property owners covered by the district, the Isle of Capri Advisory Board and other fire departments and organizations as needed to have a discussion about the department's future and improving it's financial viability.

Commissioners indicated they would be open to a possible merger of Isle of Capri with another fire department, but said they want residents and the department officials to weigh in. Commissioners want a report by their first meeting in January.

The merger discussions began after residents of about 280 homes in the Fiddler's Creek development who are currently covered by Isle of Capri fire approached East Naples fire officials in March asking to be absorbed into their independent district.

The reason, Fiala said, was not because of poor service by county-managed Isle of Capri department, but rather that their neighbors in Fiddler's Creek, who are already covered by East Naples, are paying a lower millage rate for fire service. East Naples charges property owners 1.5 mils for fire service, while Isle of Capri's millage rate is 2 mils, Fiala said.

The Isle of Capri fire department has a $1.26 million fiscal 2013 budget, of which $191,000 is in operating expenses. The loss of the six blocks of Fiddler's Creek homes to East Naples fire would result in a loss of $121,500, or about 12 percent of the taxable value in the Isle of Capri fire district.

The only way to decrease the budget to meet such a shortfall, county officials surmised, would be to reduce staff by two full-time employees, at a cost of about $66,000 each with benefits; to increase the millage rate by 0.3 mils; or to receive a transfer from the general fund.

The loss of employees would increase overtime costs and put the county in violation of a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, which it received to supplement fire service levels.

The Capri fire advisory board is slated to meet at 3 p.m. Friday to discuss the matter, said board member Jim Hughes.

Alan McLaughlin, the chief of Ochoppee and the Isle of Capri fire departments, said the department works at the will of the people and will continue to do so.

"We'll wait and see what the direction is," he said. "We're observers at this point."

East Naples Fire District Chief Kingman Schuldt said it is important the discussions continue and said his department is willing to be of assistance in any way.

Once all the players can get in the same room and air their concerns, everyone will be able to move forward, Fiala said.

"We will do what we have to do to work together," she said.

The move comes as residents of Isle of Capri have been trying to remain independent while overcoming future financial problems. In February, a group of residents drafted a proposal recommending Capri's fire advisory board talk to the City of Marco Island about possibly merging with its fire department.

But those talks broke down when residents worried the merger would have resulted in less control for Capri.

The state would have to approve a merger of the Isle of Capri and East Naples fire departments. But County Attorney Jeff Klatzkow said an interlocal agreement allowing East Naples to take over fire service — a de facto consolidation — could be reached if the departments decided to consolidate before state approval was sought.